Denver Broncos tight end Julius Thomas tweeted a picture earlier this week of Manning on a basketball court at Duke, where the quarterback was hosting his annual passing camp with brother Peyton Manning. Thomas, both Mannings, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz were among the participants in the photo.

A Giants source told the Daily News that the surgery had “nothing to do with” basketball.

Dr. Robert Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist in Charlotte, N.C., performed a debridement, removing dead, damaged, or infected tissue to improve the healing potential of the remaining healthy tissue.

In a statement, the two-time Super Bowl MVP said he had been rehabbing the ankle for more than three months, but it was still bothering him.

“The doc tells me I should be running in about six weeks,” Manning said, according to the team’s official website. “I’m looking forward to the start of the offseason program on the 21st. I will be in the weight room and in the meeting rooms so we can all learn the new offense. I got some good work in this week at Duke, and I think it’s smart to get this procedure done now so the ankle isn’t an ongoing issue. I’m eager to get to work with our new offensive coaches and system.”

Manning is coming off one of his worst seasons. The 33-year-old who will be entering his 11th season threw a career-high 27 interceptions playing behind a decimated offensive line that allowed him to be sacked 39 times. He completed 317 of 551 passes for 3,818 yards and 18 touchdowns.